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Spain’s government has imposed a fine of more than €64 million on Airbnb for advertising short-term rental properties that breach national consumer protection rules, amid mounting pressure over the country’s housing crisis.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs said on Monday that the sanction is final and requires the US-based accommodation platform to remove illegal listings.
Officials said more than 65,000 Airbnb adverts violated Spanish regulations, including properties advertised without a valid licence or with licence numbers that did not correspond to official registers.
According to the ministry, the fine reflects six times the estimated profit Airbnb made after it was formally warned about the offending listings but failed to remove them promptly.
Authorities said the company must now correct the breaches by deleting all unlawful content from its platform.
Airbnb said it would challenge the penalty in court, arguing that the ministry’s actions run counter to Spain’s existing legal framework.
A company spokesperson added that Airbnb is working closely with the housing ministry to roll out a new national registration system.
Since January, more than 70,000 listings have reportedly added registration numbers and remain available for booking.
The fine comes as Spain grapples with a worsening housing shortage, particularly in major tourist destinations.
While tourism continues to drive strong economic growth—with Spain hosting a record 94 million foreign visitors in 2024—residents in cities such as Barcelona complain that short-term rentals are squeezing housing supply and pushing rents beyond reach.
Critics argue that landlords are increasingly converting long-term homes into holiday accommodation, altering neighbourhoods and displacing local communities.
Housing affordability has become a key political issue for Spain’s minority left-wing coalition government.
Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy said the government would not hesitate to act against large corporations, accusing some business models of profiting at the expense of families struggling to find stable housing.
He stressed that no company, regardless of size or influence, is above the law — particularly when it comes to housing rights.
The action against Airbnb follows similar enforcement earlier this year, when authorities ordered Booking.com to remove more than 4,000 illegal accommodation listings.
